No one could have expected The Penguin would be as good as it is. Yes, the cast has amazing actors like Colin Farrell, Clancy Brown, and the soon-to-be 2025 Oscar winner, Cristin Milioti (I’m calling it now). But good and nearly perfect are different things. All the show has to do now is stick the landing. If it does, we could be looking at an all-time great comic book show.
The reason this comes as a surprise is this show was reported to not feature Batman. This is a move that could have hurt viewers. Instead, it’s doubtful anyone noticed he wasn’t around until Soifa set off a bomb in Gotham. Who knows, maybe he'll make a brief appearance in the final episode.
When a project like this succeeds, companies will start looking towards the future. Who’s the next Batman character that can leap into stardom? If they can make Oz Cobb and Sofia Gigante famous, then the sky may be the limit. Well, instead of going for the obscure, DC Comics and Warner Bros. may be looking at the cash cow. That’s right, Joker could be HBO's project.
While this is still a rumor, I know what you’re thinking. “Who asked for this?! We’ve seen what happens when Joker gets a solo project.” To that, this writer says you may be wrong. This is the perfect time, platform, and universe for the Clown Prince of Crime to get a TV show. Instead of a musical and characters that say they're one thing but aren't them, we could see a Joker worthy of the praise of comic book fans.
A Joker show is a great idea
Admittedly, there have been mistakes along the way. Suicide Squad and Joker: Folie a Deux, are both projects that people would like to forget for different reasons. A debate can be made that the performers weren’t the problem. Nevertheless, neither version will be looked at fondly.
With The Penguin both being profitable and popular, why not bring in a character that was teased at the end of The Batman? People love the actor and the villain he’s portraying. It's the right time to be bold and brave. Viewers will be more inclined to watch a show with this creative team and ignore a movie they want to forget.
Another positive thing is something The Penguin on HBO and DC Comics’ The Joker (written by James Tynion IV) both did. Instead of focusing strictly on the main character, they highlighted someone else. For The Penguin, it was Sofia Gigante. In The Joker, it was James Gordon. It may have been the realization that too much of the Clown Prince of Crime is a bit much even for the people who love him. If this series comes to be, get ready for the live-action Harley Quinn we deserve.
It's tough to launch an important character in a movie that isn't the star. It can be done, but other heroes' and villains' time will be sacrificed leading to criticism. For example, there's Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad. She was perfect, but the rest of the movie wasn't. A series (limited or otherwise) allows the space for more depth. Look at what Cristin Milioti did in episode 4 of The Penguin. That could happen to Harleen and whoever plays her.
However, you can't let her outshine Joker. Yes, that's a possibility. If she does, the question will be who this show was really about. Sadly, this is how some people will look at this instead of just enjoying the show. However, if Harley's appearance is handled properly, she can become more popular. Plus, the right actor can come out of this looking like a star. When that happens, the creative team will get more work leading to even more DC Comics films and series getting green-lit. It’s a win for everyone.
Stay tuned to Caped Crusades to see if Joker is the next show coming from The Batman's universe.
Would you watch a series starring Joker? Do you think it's too much? We want to hear from you. You can email us at entertainment@fansided.com.